To Choil, Or Not To Choil....

[The Warrior]

I'm sure there are many threads on this, but guess what, here's another one.

What do you like, or dislike about choils?

To me, a choil on a smaller knife doesn't make as much sense as it does on a bigger knife. I can see where choking up on a large blade would make the finer work easier, but on a smaller knife? What's your thoughts?

Gratuitous Becker Photo:

 

[RogueBowie]

I agree, silly on a smaller knife. EXCEPT...Love the choil on my ESEE-4. It just feels RIGHT when I'm choking up on it. I'm not a huge fan of choils, but for whatever reason they work on ESEE's.

I was actually thinking about putting a choil on my BK-9 but I don't have the tools or know how haha.

 

[daizee]

I was actually thinking about putting a choil on my BK-9 but I don't have the tools or know how haha.

half-round file and a vice. ta-da!
and maybe some sandpaper and a dowel to smooth it out when you're done.

 

[The Warrior]

I agree, silly on a smaller knife. EXCEPT...Love the choil on my ESEE-4. It just feels RIGHT when I'm choking up on it. I'm not a huge fan of choils, but for whatever reason they work on ESEE's.

I was actually thinking about putting a choil on my BK-9 but I don't have the tools or know how haha.

Well, good point. I love the choil on my ESEE 3. Part of the reason, however, is it makes it fit my hand better. The handle really isn't long enough on the 3 for my hands.

 

[thrillbilly]

I just dont like choils. I dont care for the looks, and I never (or Very rarely) use the choil on the knives I do own or have used that are choiled. I guess my cutting-style don't require/utilize a choil. And I prefer a straight blade usually.

 

[clich]

I like choils. I like whatever I'm slicing and whittling to be rested against my finger for more feel and control.

 

[C_Tanner]

Ethan don't like no choils. Nuff' said.

 

[MountainBilly]

I like them but also miss the extra edge length they replace.

I like them with linerlock folders because if the blade swings shut with my thumb on the lock bar the choil hits me instead of the sharpened edge.

 

[RogueBowie]

I like them but also miss the extra edge length they replace.

I like them with linerlock folders because if the blade swings shut with my thumb on the lock bar the choil hits me instead of the sharpened edge.

Yeah I love 50/50 choils on folders. The one on my Manix2 has probably saved me from a few little cuts haha.

 

[ocnLogan]

Well, good point. I love the choil on my ESEE 3. Part of the reason, however, is it makes it fit my hand better. The handle really isn't long enough on the 3 for my hands.

I have a BK11 with a choil, and without it I can't actually get a good grip on the thing. But I agree in general, that this should be more useful on a larger blade.

I just hate huge choils. They don't need to be any bigger than finger sized.

 

[The Warrior]

I just hate huge choils. They don't need to be any bigger than finger sized.

I hear ya. Some I have seen are freakin' huge. Not just too long either, too deep.

 

[TwinStick]

I like choils. IMO, they make doing fine work easier & when using it, it just feels like you have better control. Ethan is not a fan of choils, this is true. But if you want one, go for it. I also think it makes more sense on larger knives, but they can also work on smaller ones. Just take your time & figure out what you want before you start.

The ones i made are large, so i can use it with or without gloves on.

 

[nccole]

deleted, sorry noticed this was becker thread after I posted.

 

[The Warrior]

deleted, sorry noticed this was becker thread after I posted.

It's okay, it was about choils in general.

 

[cleans up]

I'm not a choil fan, unless your talking something the size of the 9...and even then I don't really like the look. I just like how your hand is more centered on the blade giving it a better balance for "fine" work. Anything that has a thinner blade or a more neutral feel in general doesn't need a choil IMO.

And the idea of a choil on a 14???? well you'd lose 1/4 of the blade, and that's no good

 

[tradewater]

To me they are most useful on the bigger blades. If a big knife doesn't have a choil (or large ricasso), I'll generally add one if I plan to carry it much. The BK2 is interesting because it has a flat area at the front of the handle which acts as a choil for close work. Almost everyone you see doing fine work with the BK2 uses it.

 

[SaturatedShadow]

In general, I loathe, despise, and abhor choils. Choils attempt to solve the problem of distance between handle and edge by creating more distance between handle and edge. I find this illogical.

 

[tradewater]

In general, I loathe, despise, and abhor choils. Choils attempt to solve the problem of distance between handle and edge by creating more distance between handle and edge. I find this illogical.

But...how do you really feel???

The most important thing they do (for me anyway) is shift your hand forward to a more neutral balance point while shortening the knife a bit for better control. I don't particularly like the looks either though.

 

[collecter]

I want the blade edge to come as close as possible to the hilt but not run into it like it does on a Mora.

The short answer, Minimum choil for me!

 

[SaturatedShadow]

But...how do you really feel???

The most important thing they do (for me anyway) is shift your hand forward to a more neutral balance point while shortening the knife a bit for better control. I don't particularly like the looks either though.

I can see how people may like them.

However, my reasoning is this. The choil may be helpful when choking up, but when gripping the handle, the choil is just a useless, unsharpened gap before the edge. To me, the added utility of the choil does not outweigh the disadvantage of that gap before the edge starts.

Which leads me to another question.

Those who like choils, what percentage of the time do you choke up and use the choil, and what percentage of the time do you grip the handle normally?